Another 31,772 COVID-19 cases and 26 deaths have been reported across the UK in the latest 24-hour period.

The figures, released on Sunday, compared with 32,367 cases and 34 deaths the day before - just below Friday's recorded cases when the highest number of infections since 22 January were recorded.

Coronavirus cases in the past week have risen by just over 27 percent compared with the previous week while deaths have risen by two thirds.

Another 93,763 people had their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine in the UK on Saturday, taking the total to 45,881,721 - 87.1 percent of the adult population.

A total of 211,446 people had their second jab, meaning 34,764,511 (66 percent of adults) are now fully vaccinated.

The number of hospital admissions has more than doubled (56.6 percent) in the last week data is available for, with 563 people admitted to hospital on 6 July and 3,081 in the week to that date.

The latest statistics come eight days before most restrictions are due to be lifted in England as part of step four of the lifting of lockdown, although the final decision will be made on Monday.

(With input from agencies)